Freeze-proof radiator



O 1954 s. SCHENKEL FREEZE-PROOF RADIATOR Filed June 7, 1952 INS-[+- d R.Y ub Wm NC T m. a. S

Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREEZE-PROOF RADIATORSamuel Schenkel, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 7, 1952, Serial No. 292,265

heating systems.

An important object is to provide a radiator that is freeze-proof; andto this end the radiator, which may be of the usual type comprisingvertical sections secured together, is so constructed that the sectionscommunicate with one another at progressively lower points in thedirection of the outlet pipe. Hence no water is ever trapped in theradiator, and any water of condensation will drain out and be returnedto the steam generator.

Other objects and advantages are made clear in the followingdescription, taken with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate thebest form of my invention now known to me. But this disclosure isexplanatory only and variations in structural details may be adoptedwithout omitting or deviating from the essential characteristics definedin the appended claims.

On said drawings,

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of a radiator according tothis invention, and

Figure 2 is an end elevation.

The radiator is made up of hollow sections I, and it is supported onshort legs 2, which are formed on the bottoms of the sections at the twoends of the radiator, only one of said end sections being shown. Theinlet pipe for steam is shown at 3, connected to the upper part of oneend section, and the outlet pipe 4 is coupled to the section at theopposite end. The radiator has the usual air vent 5, kept closed by ascrew plug 6.

The exhaust pipe 4 is always coupled in any suitable manner to one ofthe sections at the end of the radiator and steam condensing in theradiator flows through it back to the boiler of the heating system. Thesupply pipe 3 is usually connected to the opposite end of the radiator,but in some systems, this pipe 3 is omitted and the pipe =4 serves bothto supply the steam to the radiator and drain the water from it.

In most radiators the bottom surfaces of the inside chambers in thesections are all at the same level. Water of condensation collectsthereon; and if the temperature drops too much, as in unusually coldweather, it may freeze in the lower parts of the sections before runningoff at the pipe 4. In some installations the ra dia t or is set up in atilted position, with the sections so inclined that the end sectionconnected to the pipe 4 is lowest, to ensure full drainage 2 and avoidfreezing; which is apt to cause the sections to burst and leak at thelower portions.

With my invention freezing and damage are prevented by making the bottomsurfaces of the interior spaces in the sections slope gradually towardthe section at one end to which the pipe t is coupled. The section I atthe left on Fig ure 1 with the legs has an inside space with a slopingbottom surface leading to an aperture 6 that is in line with an openingI in the adjacent side of the next section Ia. This opening I has anoutside boss 3 with an inside shoulder 9, and surrounding the opening 6is a boss It with an outside shoulder II. The rim of the boss II)telescopes into the boss 8 and abuts the shoulder 9, while the rim ofthe boss 8 encircles the rim of the boss I0 and abuts the shoulder I I.The joint is sealed by any suitable means.

Similarly the section la is joined to the next section Ib through anopening 6 in the section Ia and an alined opening 1 in the section It,with interfitting bosses 8 and It as before. The openings through whichthe sections I a and ID communicate are somewhat lower than the openingsthrough which the sections I and I a are in communication; and so on tothe last section coupled to the pipe 4. The sloping bottoms of theinterior spaces in the sections and the sloping interior surfaces of thecoupled bosses 8 and I0, the axes of said openings and the bossessurrounding them being inclined to the same extent, make a duct orchannel that is straight and smooth along the bottom of the radiator,when the sections are upright and vertical, so that all condensed waterwill naturally flow down to the pipe 4, even if the heat is turned on"and the temperature falls below freezing. The radiator is thus alwaysdrained of any liquid water and freezing cannot take place.

The sections have the usual shape, being open with large apertures atthe middle with spaces I2. Each section has perforated projections IS inthe space I2 for rods I 4, the ends of which are threaded to receivenuts to hold the sections together.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. A radiator comprising hollow sections placed side by side, thesection at one end of the radiator having an outlet opening in its lowerportion on one side and the remaining sections each having in its lowerportion an inlet opening at one side and an outlet opening at the otherside, the inlet and outlet openings being respectively at increasinglylower points on each section from said one end of the radiator to itsopposite end, the inside bottom surfaces of each section being inclinedand flush with the lower edges of said openings, the sections havinginterfitting bosses coupling the sections together and surrounding saidopenings with the inlet opening of one section registering with theoutlet opening of an adjacent section, the axes of said bosses alsohaving the same inclination, so that said bottom surfaces form a slopingdrain channel through said openings at the bottom of said radiator tothe lowest of said outlet openings thereof.

2. A radiator comprising hollow sections placed side by side, thesection at one end of the radiator having an outlet opening in its lowerportion on one side and the remaining sections each having in its lowerportion an inlet opening at one ide and an outlet opening at the otherside, the inlet and outlet openings being respectively at increasinglylower points on each section from said one end of the radiator to itsopposite end, the inside bottom surfaces of each section being inclinedand flush with the lower edges of said openings, the sections havinginterfitting bosses coupling the sections together and surrounding saidopenings with the inlet opening of one section registering with theoutlet opening of an adjacent section, the axes of said bosses alsohaving the same inclination, so that said bottom surfaces form a slopingdrain channel through said openings at the bottom of said radiator tothe lowest of said outlet openings thereof, said sections being of equalheight with their outside bottom surfaces substantially in flushhorizontal alinement and being open in the middle with large centralapertures, and having lugs at the upper and lower edges of saidapertures for tie bolts to secure said sections in assembled relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 154,561 Mills Sept. 1, 1874 321,232 Lounsbury June 30, 1885475,849 Dimmick et a1 May 31, 1892 1,161,567 Williams Nov. 23, 1915

